Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley police chiefs and highlights the work they do and the challenges they face.

Just as it does everywhere, opiate addiction spawns crime in Vandergrift.

Police Chief Joe Caporali said there are fewer overdoses in recent months, but addiction commonly fuels crime.

“Most burglaries, robberies and home invasions are caused by an addict’s need to get money or addicts being robbed,” he said.

Most domestic abuse cases involve alcohol or drugs or both, he said. At times, the drug trade is tied to assault or even homicide.

Drug-related crime is a major challenge for the 24-7 Vandergrift Police Department, which also patrols East Vandergrift.

The borough’s patrolmen also back up five surrounding communities.

More and more crystal methamphetamine is being found in the borough, the chief said.

“It’s almost always been present, but not as prevalent as it is now,” he said.

Cocaine — usually turned into crack — is on the streets along with a variety of synthetic opiates.

And, like a lot of other departments, crime is not the Vandergrift Police Department’s only challenge.

They’re short on money and officers.

The department fields eight full-time patrol officers and it can employ three part-time officers — if they can find ones who are available.

That’s where Caporali, 65, steps in.

In a mantra heard in all but full-time-only police departments, part-time officers are at a premium.

“It’s getting harder to find the part-timers,” he said. “Not as many are graduating from the police academies, and the ones that do are searching for full-time jobs. I understand.”

In 1980, Caporali was hired as a part-time borough patrolman. Four years later, he began working a full-time patrol job.

“Since then, I have held all of the patrol jobs, including sergeant and lieutenant,” Caporali said. He was appointed chief in 2000.

He said his job is short on patrolling and long on administration.

Most of Caporali’s work day is used filling the patrol schedule for all three shifts. He also meets with the public to handle complaints and talk about community needs. He sees them as opportunities.

But there are unpredictable duties.

He still heads out on serious calls, where his experience on the job can help officers.

The borough usually has about 3,400 police calls annually.

Records show about a 66% reduction in all crime in Vandergrift from 2017 to 2018.

Patrols are making a difference, but Caporali has been around long enough to categorize 500 fewer crimes as good news, but not a predictor of the future.

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